Special Areas Newsletter
Thursday, October 19, 2017
Art News
Art and Community
Empty Bowl Project
https://www.austinemptybowl.org/
Call For Families!
I am going to host a bowl making event for the Empty Bowl Project. I will host and help up to 10 families on Saturday, October 28th at 10 am in the art room at Boone. We will have a workshop on how to make bowls and your family will be able to make your own to donate to the EBP. All materials will be supplied, all you need to bring are some hands! Please allow a couple of hours of your time.We will glaze on November 11th at 10 am if you are available, but if you are not able to make it to the glazing it will be done for you. Please sign up through the Sign-Up Genius and it will be first come first serve. Space is limited! If you have any questions fell free to contact me at 512-841-5377 or Jennifer.schroeder@austinisd.org.
Here is the link to sign up! http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e094bafa72aa5fe3-empty
The students first art projects have been completed for a fundraiser with Original Works. The fundraiser will be from November 6th -November 17th. Be on the look out for the information as it gets closer!
Library Lines
Library is going great this year. Students have been learning how to choose just right books and about internet safety. Older grades are using google classroom and are encouraged to participate in the Bluebonnet Reading Program. For more info, please contact me.
If you haven’t made it by, please drop in to see the awesome storybook character pumpkins made by our awesome kindergartners and their families. We also have a giant spider made by one of our talented 4th graders. You can also follow the Boone Library on Facebook to see pictures of the pumpkins and the spider.
Couple of reminders:
Please learn your child’s library day and make sure they are turning in their books on time. We currently have a lot of overdues, especially in 5th grade. Here is a link to the schedule. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3u22SQKM-pcWV9fYkNNR2RHek0/view?usp=sharing
Also, parents are welcome to sign up for an account. Fill out the form below, and I will set up an account for you. Parents are able to check out up to 5 books at a time. They can be kept for two weeks. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd3RQiog3J3NbI_g-aXfVxnUvRIJOrtLXrq-0B64Whm5vDWEA/viewform?usp=sf_link
We had an author (Nikki Loftin) visit 1st and 2nd grades to talk about the writing process. She’s coming back to talk about her books with the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. Thank you PTA for funding this 2nd visit. She will be here on October 31. If you or your child (or other family member) would like an autographed copy of one of her books, please fill out the form below and return by October 30.
https://drive.google.com/a/austinisd.org/file/d/0B3u22SQKM-pca2c2Z24tTFVfM28/view?usp=sharing
Please contact me with any questions.
Michelle Lightbourn, Librarian
michelle.lightbourn@austinisd.org
512-414-5320
PE Shorts
3rd – 5th Grades:
Fitnessgram Testing
- Throughout the month of October, 3rd – 5th grade students have been participating in Fitnessgram testing. The students are tested on the following: Push-Ups, Curl-Ups, Sit & Reach, Trunk Lift, and PACER test. If you would like to see your child’s results please feel free to email me, taylor.summy@austinisd.org
Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd Grades:
- Skill: Throwing & Catching
- Health Topics: Nutrition & Cardiovascular System
Marathon Kids:
For the second year, AISD will use the simple, effective and FUN Marathon Kids program during W.O.W time, district wide. Incorporating activity breaks like W.O.W. time have a significant impact on a child’s ability to focus and be productive in the classroom.
Here’s how it works: each homeroom teacher will be trained and become an AISD Marathon Kids Coach. During half of W.O.W. time each day (ten minutes), classroom teachers will lead the class in a running activity and count the miles they complete. Students will be encouraged to run up to the equivalent of four marathons over the course of the school year, which equals 104.8 miles, one day at a time. Along the way, they will receive an exclusive Marathon Kids rewards, created and provided by Nike, for every 26.2 miles (the distance of a marathon) they accumulate over time. The rewards include: a Marathon Kids-Nike T-shirt (26.2 miles), exclusive Nike bracelet (52.4 miles), Nike patch (78.6 miles) and a Nike dog tag (104.8 miles). Kindergarten will receive bracelets, provided by the Physical Education Department.
Taylor Summy
PE Coach
Music Notes
It’s a VERY busy time in ALL the Music Classes!
Kindergarten has made progress in leaps and bounds and the singing is beautiful. We play games like “Cut the Cake” and “A Tisket, A Tasket” and work with skipping partners in “Skip to My Lou”.
1stGrade is learning about music notation with individual white boards to draw quarter notes and eighth notes, using bar lines and time signatures. They will start practicing for the holiday musical “A Very Bear-y Holiday” this week.
2nd Grade just performed the musical “Make It Healthy!” and EVERYONE worked hard to make it a success. Now they will re-dedicate themselves to folk songs and folk dancing and begin to learn melodic dictation.
3rd Grade started strong, learning new rhythms and how to recognize them in music. They will soon perform their musical “Squirm!” about bats and bugs and worms and spiders and such (EEEEEWWWW!) and show off their tuneful singing with superb acting skills.
4th Grade is learning about syncopated rhythms and where they occur in many popular songs. We’ve found them in New Orleans Jazz (“Li’l Liza Jane”), music from the Caribbean (“Hill and Gully Rider”) and old sea shanties (“John Kanaka”--with an amazing version by the Sea Shanty Club of New Zealand!)
5th Grade is also doing syncopated rhythms and learning how to sing them in a round. They can accompany themselves with syncopated rhythms and drums. We found a version of the Native American folk song “Canoe Song” on YouTube that gave us an idea of how to extend the material and make an exciting performance piece. All I can say is “hey yanna hey!”
Stay tuned for 5th Grade Honor Choir’s Veteran’s Day performance and the “Rock and Roll Forever” show by the 4th Grade “Upbeats” choir. Yes! There is a LOT going on in Music Class! Keep your ears tuned for even more.
Red Ribbon Week - October 23rd - October 27th
Unity Day - Wednesday, October 25th
Red Ribbon Week and Unity Day
A time when we talk about and pledge to live life the healthy way. We don’t put alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs into our bodies that are unhealthy for our body’s growth.
Monday, Oct. 23 - Love Yourself, Make Healthy Choices
- Wear as much red as you can to kick off “Red Ribbon Week”
Tuesday, Oct. 24 - Follow Your Dreams
Put unhealthy choices to sleep
- Wear your pajamas
Wednesday, Oct. 25 - Unity Day: Together against Bullying
We unite for kindness, acceptance and inclusion. A great way to healthy living!
- Wear as much orange as you can to show your support
Thursday, Oct. 26 - Be a “Jean”ius, Don’t Pollute your body
- Wear jeans and green to show you won’t pollute your body in unhealthy ways
Friday, Oct. 27 - Team up Against Unhealthy Choices!
- Show your support for your favorite sports team while “teaming up” against unhealthy choices